The 1662 Book of Common Prayer, still broadly considered to be the traditional norm of Anglican Christian worship, has a long history and has left an indisputable mark on the development of English-speaking culture worldwide (one need only think of such iconic phrases as “earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust,” originating from … Continue reading
The current American breviary in force includes as an option the Latin vespers hymn for Eastertide from the Liturgia Horarum, Ad cenam Agni providi. However, it does not have the equally excellent Latin hymns for the Office of Readings, Lauds (Morning Prayer), and the daytime hours of Terce (Mid-Morning), Sext (Midday) and None (Mid-Afternoon). To … Continue reading
It has been 47 years since the new Liturgy of the Hours (U.S. edition) first appeared in English in 1975, but the Second Vatican Council’s strong admonition (SC §100) that pastors ensure at least Sunday and Feast day Vespers be celebrated regularly in parishes is very far from being a recognizable reality in the American … Continue reading
I have long ago come to think Roman-rite pastors simply have no legitimate general excuse not to either personally celebrate, or make necessary arrangements with assistant pastors or deacons to have, at least a monthly (if not weekly or more) public divine office in their parishes. Consider: most offices (including the “major hours” of Lauds/Morning … Continue reading
The Catholic investigative journalism outfit, The Pillar, just published an excellent, extensive “inside-baseball” interview with Msgr. Andrew Wadsworth, the executive director for the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL), the body responsible for translating many (though not all) liturgical texts from Latin into English. The main topic was the hymnody for the Liturgy … Continue reading
The USCCB’s Secretariat for Divine Worship has recently updated their Liturgy of the Hours Second Edition progress tracker page with some key updates since the last bishops’ plenary meeting, which included votes on final-draft components of the overhaul. The changes/updates that stood out to me include (all emphases mine): Making it clear and explicit that … Continue reading
I have written in the past about the liturgy of the hours, the “Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” and other relatively complex and arcane forms of prayer, primarily drawn from or connected with the Roman Catholic tradition. I would like to offer for any Christian who might benefit from it a rather simple, … Continue reading
As noted in several previous posts, the U.S. bishops are well on track with completing the massive overhaul of the American Liturgy of the Hours (1975) to align with the current Latin Liturgia Horarum‘s second edition (1985) and embrace translation principles that are more faithful to the Latin text. From what the faithful have been … Continue reading
My good friend Steven Rabanal, an organist/church musician and instituted acolyte of the Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter, recently took the newly approved English text of the Te Deum to be used with the upcoming Liturgy of the Hours Second Edition, and set it to traditional Gregorian tones. He created Solemn and Simple … Continue reading
As noted in previous posts, the U.S. edition of the Liturgy of the Hours is in the process of a major overhaul, conforming it to the 1985 Latin second (and current) typical edition and giving it a significantly more faithful translation. Some of the new components have already been finalized, and the U.S. Conference of … Continue reading
Tom's Digest 